A Glass Full of Bubbles – Link Up #2

Welcome to our second A Glass Full of Bubbles! This is when we recap all the stuff that happened during the week and then invite you to add a link to your recent post or something you found intriguing or otherwise this week We invite you to go wild and inspire others – share the love, the irony, the chuckle, the good read, the lesson, the recipe…what ever pops your cork and lets the bubbles run free!

The opportunity to add your link will be open from Saturday until midnight Monday – to catch all those random time zones! So fill your glass!

This week has been a very difficult one for many of my (Junket’s) amazing friends. There’s been two long term relationship breakups, a divorce, a friend still grieving over her baby born sleeping and Mum’s with children having upcoming surgery. I’ve tried to support them when I can, but I can’t say I’ve done a great job this week with my own ongoing family health issues and some workplace challenges. So I thought I’d take this opportunity to raise awareness of some the troubles I’ve listened to as a woman, a mother, a friend.

One of my friends shared this amazing article, Why I stand quietly by my daughter. I’ve known this Mum for many years and her daughter since she was a baby. I’ve seen first hand the difference a supportive family, network and general understanding of autism can make for a child’s development. The baby she was has grown into a funny, intelligent and insightful girl. She is amazing with other children and she recently gave me a spontaneous hug of her own volition, a precious gift from a precious girl. Educate yourself on what autism is, you may be surprised.

I have alsobeen thinking of a wonderful woman I met when my son was in hospital 12 months ago. Despite being in hospital with her own chronically ill child, she helped me do up my son’s bodysuit when I was so tired I couldn’t see the press studs or get my fingers to work. She ran interference with the nurses so I could warm up hand towels in the microwave to put on his poor distended belly, before we knew he was lactose intolerant. A year later, we finally caught up again and I am inspired by her strength. Her daughter has a severe form of Williams Syndrome, living with continual seizures, pain and permanent muscular skeletal complications. She has had to discuss an end of life plan for her daughter, a discussion no parent should ever have to have. This woman is strong, because she has no choice. She is an amazing mum, an inspiration and support to all who are privileged to know her. She recently shared with me how she received amazing respite at Bear Cottage, and told me how wonderful there were to her and her family

And finally, on Sunday 22 March it is 12 months since Fluffy lost her Dad to Parkinson’s. She runs in his memory to raise funds for the Shake it up Australia Foundation and she has just over $350 to go to meet her goal of $1,000. Her latest post is an amazing and beautiful piece on grief, loss and hope. If you’ve ever lost a loved one-this piece will continue to resonate with you long after you have stopped reading. To Fluffy’s Mum, hugs and I’ll be thinking of you both this weekend. Your Dad/husband recognised he had two amazing women in his life and you continue to inspire so many. Every rainbow is for you both.

Despite a trying week for so many, all of these friends still listen to me and provide me with unconditional support. They give me strength when I need to lean and make me laugh when I just want to cry. But if you feel that nothing and no-one is helping, and you can’t pull yourself out of the blackness, please consider calling Lifeline or Beyond Blue. They do amazing work.

And remember, you are not alone and you are loved.

So if you’ve also had a trying week, have a glass of champagne to celebrate all that your wonderful life has to offer you and those you love. I know I will be. 🙂